The Westland Lysander (nicknamed "Lizzie") was a very useful RAF aircraft which was employed in a myriad of duties including Army cooperation, tactical reconnaissance and close support. It was unusual in having guns mounted on the top of the wheel spats and entered service in late 1938, serving in virtually every theater of war the RAF was involved in including Europe, the Mediterranean, the Middle East, and Burma (it also had the distinction of being the first British aircraft to be sent to France at the outbreak of war). This slow-flying high-wing monoplane eventually became too vulnerable for its Army co-op role but found great use as a liaison aircraft, air-sea rescue and in its most spectacular role: dropping and recovery of secret agents in occupied Europe where its STOL capability became extremely useful. Other users included Canada, Egypt, Ireland, Finland, France, Portugal, and Turkey.

First flown as a prototype on 15 June 1936, the Lysander entered service as the Mk. I. Subsequent marks varied only in the engine used, with the Mk. II having a Bristol Perseus XII radial and the Mk. III with a Bristol Mercury XX or XXX. 'Black Lysanders' converted for clandestine operations were designed Mk. III(SCW) and Mk. III(SD).